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Why my audio server does not run Linux
My goal is to get rid of Windows XP on my audio server and manage all of my digital media using Linux, most likely Ubuntu. Linux is appealing to me because I can run my server without having to purchase another version of Windows XP. There is also a certain level of “coolness” [...]
Continue reading...Is Microsoft’s Vista gambling too much on CableCARD?
26. October 2006
Lack of cable and satellite HDTV support is the biggest flaw in Windows MCE 2005. Hopefully, Vista will change that as CableCARD support is the major feature upgrade offered in the next version of Media Center.
Continue reading...3 ways for Emusic to gain market share
26. October 2006
iTunes dominates the digital music arena. The number 2 service is Emusic, which I believe has a lot of untapped potential. I like the site and I love that the songs do not have any digital rights management (DRM). The catalog of music is impressive, but the site is about 90% [...]
Continue reading...Barenaked Ladies successfully stick it to the recording industry
24. October 2006
The Barenaked Ladies are offering their latest album, “Barenaked Ladies Are Me,” as a download from their website without digital rights managment. All audio downloads are available in the popular MP3 format, encoded at 196kbps. Some audio has also been made available in FLAC file format, which is a lossless format. [...]
Continue reading...Washington Post: Cheers and Jeers for iPod’s 5th Anniversary
22. October 2006
The Washington Post is running a a series of articles today on the iPod to celebrate its 5 year anniversary. Most of the articles praise the iPod but a couple highlight some problems with the omnipresent device. Overall, I think it is a good read though nothing too groundbreaking. In some [...]
Continue reading...Why is the Sonos Digital Music System not more popular?
21. October 2006
By all accounts, the Sonos Zone Player is a great piece of hardware for digital audio. Why is it not more popular? I recently came across a review of the Sonos whole house audio system done by the Wall Street Journal. From the article: Both Sonos and Rhapsody were originally designed to work with PCs. [...]
Continue reading...Advertising-based downloads to fight digital piracy?
18. October 2006
The dilemma facing any owner of copyrighted works continues to be how to compete with online piracy, mainly torrent sites that offer online versions of books, music, and videos. The usual response is some sort of digital rights managment, which is frustrating for the user and actually provides little protection against piracy. [...]
Continue reading...Network2.TV: a new network television “station?”
16. October 2006
Network2.tv is an internet video aggregator, attempting to be the next network television “station.” This website is like a compiled TV guide to Web-only, independently produced episodic video shows.
Continue reading...New DRM on a Shelf Near You: Protect DVD-Video
10. October 2006
One of the main advantages of a media center or HTPC is the ability to rip DVDs and store them on a hard drive to access through a slick user interface. For some reason, this really bugs the movie industry. There is so much potential in media centers and home theater computers, yet [...]
Continue reading...DIY: Roll your own Sonos Audio System
7. October 2006
I have Sonos envy. The Sonos ZP80 looks like a fantastic product (see review here). The beauty of the ZP80 is that you can access your digital music collection without a TV. You control your music selection though their i-Pod like remote anywhere in your house. Quite honestly, Apple should have made [...]
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31. October 2006
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